Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-112) / The current study focused on investigating the relationship between sleep problems, learning disabilities and substance use in adolescence. The literature suggests that adolescents with learning disabilities are more vulnerable to engaging in risk behaviours than adolescents who do not have learning disabilities. Early childhood sleep problems also seem to be a robust marker for substance use in adolescence. The prevalence of sleep problems among adolescents is increasing and is particularly high among those with learning disabilities.

This study featured the use of ... a comprehensive battery [of tests], designed to assess general spatial ability as well as varieties of spatial cognition (including spatial navigation).

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-96). / Working from the transfer-inappropriate processing shift (Schooler, 2002), this project aimed to investigate whether a shift from automatic to controlled processing would impair face recognition rates, much like the manipulated Navon letters do (Perfect, Weston, Dennis, & Snell, 2008), thus providing an alternative explanation for the mechanism underlying the verbal overshadowing effect (Schooler & Engstler-Schooler, 1990).

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-97). / Sexual violence has been increasingly used against women during conflicts. The harm of war on women has been poorly visible due to the associated stigma and traditions that blame women for male sexual exploitation. As a result, it creates a collusion of secrecy around issues of sexual violence between women, perpetrators and society. Present literature on issues of trauma tends to draw on a PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) model with a focus on the individual. As a result, it restricts, and limits the experiences of refugee women by neglecting a collective view of trauma. Research on the war rape experiences of refugee women is a step towards making the harm of war more visible and provides a meaning and context for their experiences.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-97). / While inter-racial contact in university settings has been researched previously, the important concept of institutional support has not. This construct was listed by Allport as a necessary condition under which contact will yield positive results i.e. reduced prejudice towards outgroup members. This study investigated University of Cape Town residence students' perceptions of institutional support for inter-racial contact to assess whether such perceived support had a noticeable impact on prejudice measures between students.

Includes bibliographical references. / Behavioral studies of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have indicated that aggression is common amongst alcohol-exposed adolescents, and that it appears to become more prevalent with age in that population. Such studies have documented the presence of aggression as a behavioral outcome, but have not provided detailed information regarding its presentation, including whether it is proactive or reactive in nature and under which circumstances it arises. Consequently, there is a lack of a theoretical framework within which to understand aggression in FASD. The current research comprised two studies. In Study 1, comorbid developmental disorders that are typically associated with aggression were examined in alcohol-exposed and non-exposed boys and girls. The results indicated a higher prevalence of disruptive behavior disorders, and conduct disorder in particular, amongst the alcohol-exposed boys, and highlighted a significant association between prenatal alcohol exposure and an aggressive subtype of conduct disorder. Based on these findings, Study 2, a multiple-case study, examined the aggressive behaviors of 6 alcohol-exposed and nonexposed adolescents and their classmates.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-67). / Postoperative neurocognitive impairment has been associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). This study investigates the short-term effects of off-pump cardiopulmonary bypass graft surgery (OPCAB) on cognitive performance, as a possible safer alternative in the treatment of coronary artery disease. This research forms part of a larger study in which, in addition to the OPCAB procedure, the cognitive effects of CABG surgery and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with intra-coronary stenting are assessed. 36 participants undergoing OPCAB surgery were included in the study, with a further 36 participants included as an age- and education- matched non-surgical control group. A standardized battery of neuropsychological tests, designed to assess seven cognitive domains, was administered on two occasions, preoperatively at 1-2 days prior to surgery, and postoperatively at 1 month after surgery, with control participant assessments at the same intervals. Emotional state scales assessing depression and anxiety levels were administered at each assessment. Data analysis included a two-way mixed analysis of variance conducted on each measure of cognitive function, and on the indicators of emotional state. In addition, standard multiple regression was conducted to assess whether change in emotional state is able to predict change in any of the cognitive domains. Results indicated no evidence of short-term cognitive decline, and highlighted an improvement in cognitive performance in both surgical and control groups in the domain of language, psychomotor speed, executive function and visual memory, with the control group demonstrating a consistently superior performance. This counter-intuitive finding could not be attributed to practice effects.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-92). / “Theory of mind” (ToM) refers to the ability to understand and make inferences about other people’s intentions, feelings and beliefs. The fact that previous research shows an impairment in social competence following traumatic brain injury (TBI) alludes to a potential relationship between TBI and ToM. Although the relationship between paediatric TBI (pTBI) and ToM ability is relatively unexplored, especially within a South African context, previous research on TBI and ToM suggests social impairment following TBI. The current research project was aimed to investigate exactly that. The study reported here investigated this relationship, and specifically focused on the effects of pTBI on ToM ability in 9-15 year old children.

Bibliography: leaves 87-101. / The present study compares the use of standardised diagnostic clinical interviews, self-report scales, and unstructured interviews, to determine if these different methods of assessment elicit the same or similar information with regards to trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression in adolescents. A sample of Grade ll learners was drawn from two schools in the Northern Suburbs of Cape T own. The total sample comprised of 58 learners between the ages of 16 and 18 years. Each participant was administered a demographic questionnaire, a clinical diagnostic interview, two self-report scales, and an unstructured interview. The diagnostic interview used was the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children - Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL), and the self- report scales used were the Child and Adolescent Trauma Survey (CATS) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CD1). The demographic questionnaire and qualitative interview were devised for the study. The McNemar Chi-Square statistic was used to determine differences between the interview and self-report methods of assessment, and a content analysis of the qualitative interview was conducted. Additionally, a Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis was used to establish a CATS score, indicating a high risk of PTSD, that was more sensitive to the sample. The results indicate that even though clinical interviews and self-report scales appear to produce different information, if appropriate cut-off points are used, self-report scales can be used as a screening device to reduce the number of clinical interviews required, thus contributing to a more efficient use of resources. They also indicate that unstructured qualitative interviews can elicit useful information about post- traumatic responses that is not captured by the DSM IV criteria.

Bibliography: leaves 103-107. / Literature has indicated that international students may experience difficulties when entering their country of sojourn. Previous studies have not addressed the experience of these students in South Africa. Given the unique social and historical context of the country, students may encounter issues dissimilar to other countries. The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of international students in South Africa, in terms of the social, academic and general experience. Additionally, students' motivations and expectations were explored. For this purpose, a survey was conducted via e-mail to students at three Western Cape universities. The final sample comprised 142 postgraduate international students from three universities. The participants were from a variety of faculties, and originated from a variety of countries, most of them coming from the African continent.( A questionnaire, comprising closed-and open-ended questions, was constructed from findings in international research. The collected data were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative analysis included chi-squares, Fischer's exact tests and logistic regression. The qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The main finding of this study was that students, although in most respects faring well, experienced problems in social interaction with South Africans.) Specifically, students reported having experienced discrimination. Their worst experiences were crime and social problems, and the experiences they enjoyed the most were mainly sightseeing and social activities, as well as faring well socially. Most students had arrived in the country in search of education, and with realistic expectations. The academic lives of most students were satisfactory. However, most students did not wish to remain in South African after the completion of their studies. Thus, there was no brain gain in favour of South Africa.